AIMIM seeks inclusion in opposition bloc, protests outside former CM Rabri Devi's home

Patna: In a first, the AIMIM workers held a demonstration with drums outside the 10, Circular Road residence of former CM Rabri Devi on Thursday, demanding their party’s inclusion in the opposition INDIA bloc to “prevent a split of secular votes”.The AIMIM, headed by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, has been seeking inclusion in the opposition alliance ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.Holding banners and walking to the beat of drums, the protesters, led by state AIMIM president Akhtarul Iman, also shouted slogans like, “Lalu-Tejashwi apne kano ko khol, tere darwaje par baj raha dhol (open your ears to the drumbeats at your doorsteps)”; “gathbandhan ke liye apna darwaja khol, varna khul jayega tere MY samikaran ka pol (open your door for the alliance, or else your M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) equation will be exposed)”.Iman said they demanded only six seats to contest as part of the INDIA bloc to prevent a split in the secular votes, but the RJD has paid no attention to their request. Instead, its leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav expressed ignorance about receiving any such letter. "So, we walked to his residence beating drums," Iman said, demanding the formation of a Seemanchal Development Council and announcement of a special package for this region if the opposition bloc forms the govt.

He also sought adequate representation of Dalit, backward and minority class people in proportion to their population.Iman alleged that the RJD wants the support of Muslim voters but does not care for the community. “During March 2005 assembly polls, which saw a hung House, the LJP, led by late Ram Vilas Paswan, had given a proposal to the RJD to appoint any Muslim as the CM if it wanted his party’s support, but the RJD refused,” Iman alleged, saying the current situation appears similar, and hence they are protesting.